Ryan Kavanaugh

Using a combination of smarts, charm, doggedness ? and access to loads of cash ? Ryan Kavanaugh over the last six years has become a bona-fide power player in Hollywood. Once a failed venture capitalist, Kavanaugh, 36, now co-produces movies with Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures and through his own company, Relativity Media. The red-headed, freckle-faced would-be mogul, who prefers sneakers and jeans to loafers and suits, usually sees his name attached to lower-brow fare such as this month's Nicolas Cage-starrer "Season of the Witch.

Prosecutors have declined to file charges against a Hollywood studio head who became the focus of a criminal investigation after landing his helicopter on a Sheriff's Department helipad during the manhunt for ex-Los Angeles police officer Christopher Dorner. The Los Angeles County district attorney's office concluded that there was no evidence that Relativity Media's Ryan Kavanaugh knew a captain had denied him permission to land at the helipad. Prosecutors also concluded that they couldn't prove that Kavanaugh endangered anyone's life or property, since he landed his aircraft at a time when the sheriff's helicopters nearby weren't in operation.

A Hollywood studio head is under criminal investigation for possibly impeding the manhunt for ex-Los Angeles police officer Christopher Dorner by landing his helicopter on a sheriff's helipad during the search, sources said. Relativity Media's Ryan Kavanaugh has been known for taking a chopper to the office and appointments around town. The noisy landings have drawn complaints from some nearby residents. But the Los Angeles County Sheriff's criminal investigation is a new level of scrutiny.

A Hollywood studio head is under criminal investigation for possibly impeding the manhunt for rogue ex-Los Angeles police officer Christopher Dorner by landing his helicopter on a Sheriff's Department helipad during the search, law enforcement sources said. Relativity Media's Ryan Kavanaugh has been known for taking a chopper to the office and appointments around town. The noisy landings have drawn complaints from some nearby residents. But the Los Angeles County Sheriff's criminal investigation is a new level of scrutiny.

For the last five years, Ryan Kavanaugh has been one of Hollywood's go-to people to share the risk on movies. The chief executive of Relativity Media has invested in 138 films, most of them at Sony Pictures and Universal Pictures, where his company has long-term agreements to co-fund 75% of both studios' film slates. Co-financing movies can be an easy way to lose money ? a large reason the flood of private equity funds that flowed into Hollywood several years ago dried up. And Relativity has seen the downside in the last couple of years through its association with a string of money losers from Universal, including "Land of the Lost" and " The Wolfman.

A Los Angeles judge on Friday blocked public relations executive Michael Sitrick from trying to collect on a $7.7-million legal judgment he won from Hollywood producer Ryan Kavanaugh more than five years ago. Judge James C. Chalfant of Los Angeles County Superior Court found that Kavanaugh told the truth when he asserted at the time of the 2002 judgment against him that he was essentially penniless.

Billionaire Ron Burkle has added movie production and concert promotion to the arenas he wants to play in. The man who made his fortune bagging supermarket chains and selling them off for billions went into the live music business Thursday by purchasing Artist Group International, a New York agency that books concerts for Billy Joel, Metallica and others. He concurrently invested in the movie business by taking a stake in independent movie studio Relativity Media. Y Entertainment group, a newly formed subsidiary of Burkle's investment firm Yucaipa Cos., made the two deals separately for undisclosed sums of money.

After the coffee. Before emptying the cat box (well, you wanted to know). The Skinny: I stuffed myself silly at the premiere party for HBO's "Veep" last night so I'm feeling a little bloated this morning. Yes, it's a tough life. Wednesday's headlines include analysis of the fight between broadcasters and Aereo, Sony Entertainment Chief Executive Michael Lynton gets a new deal and MTV cancels"Buckwild. " Daily Dose: Aereo may be a little start-up (see below), but when it comes to lobbying in Washington, D.C., it is playing in the big leagues.

Heading into this weekend's box-office battle,"Act of Valor"has the competition in its cross hairs. The action film featuring about a dozen active-duty Navy SEALs is poised to pick off its rivals at the multiplex, claiming the No. 1 position with roughly $23 million in ticket sales, according to those who have seen pre-release audience surveys. The film's distributor, Relativity Media, is projecting a softer opening of no more than $17 million. Tyler Perry's latest film, the romantic drama "Good Deeds," is likely to be the runner-up with about $17 million.

January 14, 2013 | By Steven Zeitchik and Ben Fritz, Los Angeles Times

For this awards season, Hollywood came through with a bumper crop of movies that were critical and fan favorites. But in many cases, the big studios themselves can't take much of the credit. Among the films basking in Oscar nominations - and bragging rights for the studios that released them - are "Lincoln," "Zero Dark Thirty" and "Beasts of the Southern Wild. " In a growing trend, the distributors of those three movies didn't pay to make them. Walt Disney Studios, Sony Pictures and Fox Searchlight essentially outsourced the productions, allowing others to invest the money and take the risk.

A Hollywood studio head is under criminal investigation for possibly impeding the manhunt for ex-Los Angeles police officer Christopher Dorner by landing his helicopter on a sheriff's helipad during the search, sources said. Relativity Media's Ryan Kavanaugh has been known for taking a chopper to the office and appointments around town. The noisy landings have drawn complaints from some nearby residents. But the Los Angeles County Sheriff's criminal investigation is a new level of scrutiny.

After the coffee. Before emptying the cat box (well, you wanted to know). The Skinny: I stuffed myself silly at the premiere party for HBO's "Veep" last night so I'm feeling a little bloated this morning. Yes, it's a tough life. Wednesday's headlines include analysis of the fight between broadcasters and Aereo, Sony Entertainment Chief Executive Michael Lynton gets a new deal and MTV cancels"Buckwild. " Daily Dose: Aereo may be a little start-up (see below), but when it comes to lobbying in Washington, D.C., it is playing in the big leagues.

January 14, 2013 | By Steven Zeitchik and Ben Fritz, Los Angeles Times

For this awards season, Hollywood came through with a bumper crop of movies that were critical and fan favorites. But in many cases, the big studios themselves can't take much of the credit. Among the films basking in Oscar nominations - and bragging rights for the studios that released them - are "Lincoln," "Zero Dark Thirty" and "Beasts of the Southern Wild. " In a growing trend, the distributors of those three movies didn't pay to make them. Walt Disney Studios, Sony Pictures and Fox Searchlight essentially outsourced the productions, allowing others to invest the money and take the risk.

Heading into this weekend's box-office battle,"Act of Valor"has the competition in its cross hairs. The action film featuring about a dozen active-duty Navy SEALs is poised to pick off its rivals at the multiplex, claiming the No. 1 position with roughly $23 million in ticket sales, according to those who have seen pre-release audience surveys. The film's distributor, Relativity Media, is projecting a softer opening of no more than $17 million. Tyler Perry's latest film, the romantic drama "Good Deeds," is likely to be the runner-up with about $17 million.

Billionaire Ron Burkle has added movie production and concert promotion to the arenas he wants to play in. The man who made his fortune bagging supermarket chains and selling them off for billions went into the live music business Thursday by purchasing Artist Group International, a New York agency that books concerts for Billy Joel, Metallica and others. He concurrently invested in the movie business by taking a stake in independent movie studio Relativity Media. Y Entertainment group, a newly formed subsidiary of Burkle's investment firm Yucaipa Cos., made the two deals separately for undisclosed sums of money.

November 12, 2011 | By Ben Fritz and Steven Zeitchik, Los Angeles Times

As production on the comedy "21 and Over" was getting underway in Seattle this summer, the cast and filmmakers received surprising news from producer Ryan Kavanaugh. Although the movie is about a group of students out for a night of partying in a U.S. college town, additional scenes would have to be shot, and set, in China. Why? Kavanaugh's Relativity Media could grab significant new money by making "21 and Over" a Chinese co-production, said a person close to the movie who requested anonymity because the discussions were private.

Prosecutors have declined to file charges against a Hollywood studio head who became the focus of a criminal investigation after landing his helicopter on a Sheriff's Department helipad during the manhunt for ex-Los Angeles police officer Christopher Dorner. The Los Angeles County district attorney's office concluded that there was no evidence that Relativity Media's Ryan Kavanaugh knew a captain had denied him permission to land at the helipad. Prosecutors also concluded that they couldn't prove that Kavanaugh endangered anyone's life or property, since he landed his aircraft at a time when the sheriff's helicopters nearby weren't in operation.

A Hollywood studio head is under criminal investigation for possibly impeding the manhunt for rogue ex-Los Angeles police officer Christopher Dorner by landing his helicopter on a Sheriff's Department helipad during the search, law enforcement sources said. Relativity Media's Ryan Kavanaugh has been known for taking a chopper to the office and appointments around town. The noisy landings have drawn complaints from some nearby residents. But the Los Angeles County Sheriff's criminal investigation is a new level of scrutiny.

It's hard to say what is most depressing about "Cowboys & Aliens" — the film itself, or the fact that this was the best movie a posse of major Hollywood players could come up with. A leaden mash-up of western and science-fiction elements that ends up noisy, grotesque and unappealing, this Jon Favreau-directed film features five producers (including Brian Grazer and Ron Howard), six executive producers (Steven Spielberg and Ryan Kavanaugh among them) and six credited writers, led by "Star Trek" rebooters Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci and "Lost's" Damon Lindelof.

Relativity Media Chief Executive Ryan Kavanaugh's top lieutenant, Michael Joe, will now oversee the independent studio on behalf of its primary investor. In the latest executive shake-up at the West Hollywood company in the last year, Joe has relinquished his role as president and will supervise Relativity on behalf of its sole investor, the New York hedge fund Elliott Management. Elliott has invested more than $1 billion in Relativity, which has lost several hundred million dollars over the last few years, according to a person familiar with the matter.